Sunday, November 1, 2009

Long Overdue Update!

Hi ladies, I'm so very sorry that I've not updated in so long. I am still reading your comments, and I'm happy and thrilled that people have found this site, and that it has helped women realize that they are not "crazy", and that the symptoms they are facing after getting an IUD are real, and they ARE related to the Mirena.

I have really struggled to lose the weight I gained with the Mirena, which has never been an issue for me before. I am convinced something about that thing changed my body chemistry, but maybe I'm wrong. I somehow doubt it. I will spare you the details, but even switching to a vegetarian diet with no processed or fast foods hasn't worked. The good news is that I started Medifast less than a week ago, and the pounds are starting to shed like crazy, so it seems like my journey with this is going to come full circle.

Otherwise, I feel happy, healthy, and thrilled I got that thing removed.

I encourage you ladies to keep commenting, keep the conversation going, and keep helping each other.

82 comments:

RainbowGirl
said...

Hello,

I just had my mirena moved last Thursday, October 29. I have has bleeding with large clots the past few days, but it looks like it all passed. I was searching the net about what to expect post removal and found your website. Thanks for making this site. I hope it helps others!

I got my mirena fitted after my second child was born. I tried regular birth control but I was so moody my husband was telling I better get off the pill.

Before my first dd i was about 130 lbs. I had her and a few months later found out i was pregnant. I gained a ton of weight with my second dd. All the way up to 195 lbs. By my 6 week check up I was 170 and losing. After getting my mirena I have not moved as far as my weight. I am one who typically looses weight fast and to just stop especially after giving birth and have 2 kids under 2 was just crazy. Needless to say I gave mirena 2 years and took it out last week. Hopefully the weight will go back down with some exercise and diet. So thats my story. :)

I just found your blog. I'm sorry about your experience with the IUD. I share some of them too, but my main complaint is the removal. My doctor has tried on two separate occasions to get it out and failed both times. This Friday I go in to the operating room where they can put me under so he can use meaner tools to try and get the stupid thing out. He's never had this happen before, and he's a very experienced doctor. He says it doesn't look like the IUD has imbedded in the uterus- it's just stuck. If he's unsuccessful at removing it again I don't know what I'll do. I can't wait until the dumb thing is out of me, and I want to shout to the women of the world DON'T GET AN IUD!!!

I've tried to find other women who have experienced what I am experiencing, but I haven't. Do you know anyone who has? It would be a comfort to know I'm not alone in this.

I've been wondering how old everyone is... I heard your metabolism slows as you get older and that may cause weight gain if you don't watch what you eat... I'm due to get my Mirena removed. It's close to my 5 year mark. I loved it... but I miss my period and am now looking forward to having a cycle again.

Neurologic Headache MIRENA should be used with caution in women with a history of migraine headache, including migraine with focal neurological symptoms. The onset or exacerbation of migraine or the development of headaches with a new pattern that is recurrent, persistent or severe requires evaluation of the cause and consideration to remove MIRENA. (See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS – General; Cardiovascular.) Ophthalmologic Contact Lenses Visual changes or changes in contact lens tolerance may occur in users of MIRENA. If this occurs, an ophthalmologist should be consulted. Temporary or permanent cessation of wear may be advised. Peri-Operative Considerations Thromboembolic Complications – Post-surgery Women using MIRENA who require surgery associated with prolonged immobilization should be followed closely for signs and symptoms of thromboembolism. Psychiatric Patients with a history of emotional disturbances, especially the depressive type, may be more prone to have a recurrence of depression while using MIRENA. In cases of a serious recurrence, consideration should be given to removing MIRENA, since the depression may be drug-related.

Hi there... it's good to see that you're back. I just wanted to let you know that you've inspired me to start my own blog. The blog is more for me to record my experience but if it helps others, all the better! Thanks again for posting your experience and if you're interested in checking out my blog, the URL is http://hormonalchaos.blogspot.com/.

I have just started researching the mirena after being in tears for the last 5 months over weight gain. I had my m insrted in april 09 - in over the last 5 months i have gained so much weight, i have large boil like pimples on my face on back of my thighs, i have headaches at least twice a week, facial hair and sex drive - what is that - i had a wonderful sex life with my husband and now i almost cringe when he touches me. Enough was enough today i researched on if ihad a thyroid problem and found page after page of side effects and cld not believe what i was reading. I called my doctor and booked in for a removal next thursday - Im devesated and scared. Im scared at what will be of my body after the removal and if there is perm damage to my body both internally and weight wise. Whilst i have found some comfort and relief reading these stories i am also saddened for you all and for me that i did not research this evil device before i went ahead with it. I am a mere 33 years old and have felt for the last 5 to 6 months like i was exp symptoms of bad meopause. I am devestated over my weight gain as couple of years before i was a large person and worked so hard to loose 30kg and after only 10 months of this a$$wipe IUD i am only 9 kgs away from my where i began all those years ago. To anybody who has this thing and are suffering symptoms i urge you to call your doctor and get it out. The fear i am feeling about hwat will happen to my body once it i sremoved is quite frightening. I pray i will return to normal and go back to reg periods again. Can anybody tell me their exp once removed please?

I had mines removed 3 wks ago my period came 1 wk later it was heavier than when I was on Iud but not quite normal as before bc. My pms symptoms, bloating, acne and confusion subsided with 24-48 hrs. The removal was painless. Lost a couple of lbs so far looking forward to losing at least 25 of the 35lbs I gained within 2 yrs of being on the Mirena.

I've had horrible side effects with my IUD . I got it inserted Dec 2009 and within a week. I felt depressed, panic attacts , dizziness, faint, a touch of derealization! I wasn't myself. Went to the Dr at the end of dec. to tell him about everything i was feeling. didn't think of it being the IUD he said it was PPD and prescribed me Pristiq. I tokk the med for a week and the side effects on that med were horrible, So i stopped taking it. and it took me a week to withdraw myself from the med. Within a month after being off the med. I still felt " not myself " Like I wasn't alive,"brian fog" Numb. So I Looked online and saw that it could be the mirina, cuz i had almost every side effect! I was so pissed at my Dr. I didn't make an appointment to get it removed . I did my research and took it out myself. Didn't hurt at all! It was easy . It's now been 2 weeks since the removal! and I feel awesome! I still have had a few panic attcks. But not everyday like before. I'm hoping that in do time the panic attacks will go away too!

I am so thankful that I found this site. As soon as I read all the comments on your first post, I called my doctor to get my iud removed. I just got it taken out today, and can't wait to see how my body changes, hopefully for the good. Thank you for sharing on this blog. I probably would have had no clue that it was the iud. I seriously thought I was pregnant because of the tender breasts, lower back pain, acne, and weight gain. And, like some said, I think it does just kindof happen all of a sudden. I had it in for almost a year and just within the past couple of months, I started having most of the side effects. I think my doctor didn't quite believe me when I was talking to him today, but he hasn't experienced it like all of you. So, I am thankful to have it out. Thanks again!

I had mirena inserted 10 days ago and today i could not fit into my jeans! What in the World!! My tummy is hudge. I did nto research mirena until this. I never imagined that mirena, or any iud for that matter, could cause weight gain Because it does not go to your blood stream. I just had this thing removed today, day 11. Does anyone know how long it will take to loose this gut? I have NEVER expierienced any thing like this before, and no it is not my eating habits. I am extremely cautious of my diet, and i excersise 4 to 5 days a week. Has anyone else expierienced any thing this crazy with mirena? If so, how long after removal did your body return to normal?

I am like many of you- full of questions and frustrations about the mirena and the horrible side effects I've had with it. I had mine inserted in November 09, a week before I got married. (I was a virgin when I got married) within two months I had gained 22 pounds. I thought it must be the holidays so starting in January I buckled down, started keeping a food journal, exercising 5 days a week and making sure I wasn't overeating. My husband has been so supportive. After a couple months of NO results I decided to get crazy. I limited my calories to 1300 per day and exercised an hour a day. 7 weeks later I had lost only 4 pounds and was MISERABLE. I saw my doctor and had all my blood work done thinking maybe I had a thyroid or blood sugar problem and everything came back perfect. I was relieved and frustrated. I decided to ease up on my crazy diet and workout routine and during my one week of trying to decide what realistic program to follow I gained 6 pounds. Yipee!! After a couple weeks of depression I joined weight watchers. I had lost almost 40 pounds on weight watchers in the past and felt confident that I could use my fail proof plan to get rid of the weight. Week after week my body just bounced around within 2 pounds up, down, up down, up down. I finally broke down and told my husband I couldn't deal with it any longer. My doctor told me that a small percentage of women gain a lot of weight very quickly with the mirena and realistically my weight wouldn't change unless I had it removed. I had it removed on June 7 2010. I have not had a period, I have had 3 negative readings on HPT's, and started a very consistent and high intensity workout program in July. My weight has not budged. I have however lost 6.5 inches since July 1st! The funny part is that I have never carried my weight around my mid section, I've always had a tiny waist, well, my waist is bigger than ever and it was the ONLY spot on my body that I didn't lose any inches on. At this point I just look at it as a journey that will have a surprise ending. I am counting my weight watcher points, doing a weekly routine of strength training, tae bo, power yoga, cardio, and boot camp DVD's and about 4 nights a week I go cycling or mountain biking with my husband for 1-2 hours in addition to my 45-60 minute workout sessions. You would think a normal person would be losing pounds...well, I'm not and don't know when I will but I'm taking the best care of myself I can and trying to find joy in life despite these challenges that have caused more tears, stress, and anxiety than I would care to admit. this is a novel but this is my story and I'm sure there are many like mine. You're not crazy, the mirena is crazy!

THANK YOU so much for sharing! I've had the Mirena IUD for 9 months and I'm scheduled to have it removed in 2 days. I have gained 20 pounds during this time, my stomache is bloated and hard, my nipples are leaky and I feel horribly depressed...so much that now I'm on an antidepressant. I am attributing it all to the Mirena...everything was fine before I had it.I was happy, energetic, thin. Now I'm so so tired and pregnant-looking :( I am so happy to read your blog and know that I'm not alone, or going crazy!

Hi all, I have just had an absolute nightmare with the Mirena, same as Marianne, it got stuck, encrusted in the womb, and the threads dissapeared. I have been in pain for the last 3 years, covered in spots and lots of extra weight, I have finally had it removed 3 days ago in hospital under general anasthetic. I am not yet feeling much of the positive effects because of how it has had to be taken out, but psychologically, it has been a rocky road and I think it will take time to recover from it. Mainly what go to me was the total loss of control over my body, being in constant pain and not being able to do anything about it. I'm so sorry to read so many people are having these problems and yet the Mirena is being sold as the best thing ever. It's not, it's evil.... good luck to all of you xx

I would like to just give my point of view if no one minds. Its not the actual IUD that is causing most of the side effects; its the synthetic hormone being realeased into your body. Regardless of it its orally or vaginally, its still being absorded through the mucus membranes and cause your body grief. I have had mine in for about 6 weeks and my lower abdonminal kills. If I try to do anything physical I start spotting or bleeding. I am going to hold off alil and wait to see which side of the fence I end up on because there is alot of different emotions and opinions on it. Thank you everyone for you insight and sharing of your experiences. Take Care.

I have had my Mirena since May 21, 2010. 2 months after insertion, I begin having hives occasionally. Then in August 2010 I had a full on break out all over my body. I had to go on a 10 day steroid treatment. I still get hives and rashes easy. Still, I continued to stay with Mirena because I liked not having periods and I was not ready to take any other form of BC. Well, since then, My hair is steady thinning (I already have fine hair), it breaks off so easy now. I have constant back strains, bloating, increase in migraines, occasional acne, cannot lose weight, even on diet, and no sex drive. So I tell my OB and of course, they want a Thyroid test. Well, test is normal, so I am getting this thing out this Friday! Cannot wait. Maybe my life will get back to normal, my mood will be better and I can care for my 4 children (ages 6 and under) better. They should really be more honest with the "potential" side effects. My OB said that these symptoms are not related bu ironically I didn't have any of this before this was placed (with the exception of migraines.) I hate that I did this to myself and now hope after removal I don't bleed for 3 weeks straight like I did with placement. Ugh, what a regret!!!

this site has been so helpful.. i gained 10 lbs in about two weeks after getting the mirena in Jan. 2009 (eventaully gained about 15 lbs). i thought it was just bad eating, change in schedule, etc. and all the weight was in my middle. i got the iud because i'd been bleeding consistently for 2.5 years before that and doctors thought maybe it would help. it did not and in december 2010 i started having severe pain during sex. they couldn't find a reason and then i found this site and "little things" started adding up... losing hair (but needing to shave my legs twice a day to look somewhat normal), swollen and tender breasts, THE WEIGHT GAIN! i finally made the doctor take it out in Jan. 2010 and dropped about five lbs right away but struggled with the remaining ten and getting my body somewhat back to what it was (even though i eat well and workout several times a week, nothing dropped before and it's ben slow since it was removed)... how long has it taken others to lose the weight or do you?

Im 21 with no kids and I just had my Mirena removed after having it in for five months. After having it inserted I bled horribly for two months, my skin broke out in ridiculous acne all over my face and shoulders leading mid way down my arms and within the first three months of having it in I gained a massive amount of 45 pounds! As well as I had decreased energy, hot flashes and serious chest pains. My doctor would never admit that these things were occuring because of the mirena but it didnt start until i got the darn thing so u tell me? At my doctors appointment yesterday it was removed,my doctor literally argued me to keep it in for another six months but I down right refused.

It would have been three years this december that I had the mirena IUD. I never researched it as well as I should have before my OB placed it. Moodiness like crazy, hair loss, memory loss, horrific headaches and weight gain... I go to the gym at least 4 times a week, and I eat so well its disgusting... but Im 26 and weigh well over what I should. I had my IUD finally removed today, hoping some of what Ive been going through goes away. Im so glad that I found this blog, its nice to know that even though my OB swears B/C doesnt make you gain weight... that Im not the only one whos suffered the same symptoms from it. On to the next form of B/C.

I have had Mirena for only a couple of weeks. The first thing I noticed was acne all over my normally clear face. Since I had twins three months ago, I attributed it to lack of sleep and a not so great diet. Then came the weight gain. I gained over ten pounds in two weeks. I look pregnant. On top of that my hair is falling out, my legs ache, my head hurts, and I'm irritable all the time. Not a good thing when you have babies that depend on you alone. I called my doctor last week and he was ready to remove it the very next day. I opted to weight a month so I could see if maybe my body just needs to adjust. It's not even been a week since the call and I can't wait a minute longer. I'm calling first thing in the morning to have this thing taken out!

Does anyone update here anymore im seriously considering getting my mirena out im tired of being huge when i used to be 5"9 and 130 lbs im now 170 after my son i was 155 got the iud and went upto 170 :(

Well, like many of the other ladies here, I've been searching the internet to try and find more information on weight gain w/Mirena. I've had it in for about 3 years and although I'm pretty happy about the not getting pregnant part, I am SO NOT HAPPY with the weight gain (20 lbs) and the cramps, acne, oily skin, depression etc. I stopped taking the pill b/c of the side effects (triglycerides were out of this world) and the dr thought it a better idea b/c of my age (I was 37 at the time) to get off the pill. BLAH! I'm seriously thinking about having it removed b/c I can't stand to even look at myself. I'm 5'7" and normally 125 lbs...I'm now up to 145-147. I'm miserable. :(

Hi, I dont know if anyone still reads this post but i thought i would give it a try.I was 20- April 2010-when i first got the mirena, about two months after the birth of my son. the first 6 months or so i kept calling my ob and asking him if it was normal to be bleeding abnormally like i was. he said yes, and in time i should lose my period. So i trusted his good judgement and left it in. Meanwhile, i started getting horrible acne, i had never had severe acne and it was awful, also weight gain. my normal weight is around 117 lbs im 5'5. i was up to 152. I had the perfect life, i worked a 40 hour wonderful job, i was just acccepted back into nursing school,i absolutely adored my son, had wonderful in home daycare for him, and a wonderful fiancee(babys father). Then in january 2011 it all crashed. (also my first month of not having a period) i started having heart rhythm problems-enough for me to stop working. my life became ruled by cardiology appts and er visits. after a few months and an ep study they stopped. but then i became insane. i was having severe anxiety, especially about my health. if i wasnt having a stroke, i had appendicitis, if not that, meningitis, or cancer, or embolisms, or tumors, or aortic disections. after months of daily er and dr visits, i went to a psychiatrist. she asked if i was depressed because honestly i thought i wasnt. then once i got home i started thinking .. am i? which made me so anxious about if i was suicidal. which led to a 4 week rant about being suicidial. i was scared of heights in ccase i threw myself out of a building, or medicine, or cars, lol. it was ridiculous. Anyways in august 2011 i started reading on mirena. i decided to have it out. its now october 2011. i just got my first period. i dont feel completely better, but i feel slightly better. the panic attacks have gone away slightly and my anxiety is slowly subsiding. i want to be a normal healthy 21 year old again.

I am so thankful that I found this website!!! To the one that just resently posted, I have felt the same way as you like, I had my mirena for 2 years and sience then, I thought that I was honstly crazy, this scared me to death! Soon after I got it in was when the Casey Anothny case had just started. This led me to believe that what if I was like these people that hurt thier children blah blah blah, I have cried and cried over this situation knowing in my mind I would never do anything to hurt my child in anyway what so ever! I have had head-achs everyday, havent felt like doing anything besides laying in the bed, I have been a total B****, Never want to have sex and Gaind almost 30 pounds I had mine took out 2 weeks ago, I just started my period yesterday, the few days leading up to that was tough crying all the time but other than that I now feel GREAT I hope that Women that have this thing have it took out and the ones that dont never get it, It is a horriable thing to feel like you are going Crazy! Thankful that the lord decided to show me this!

I have had the Mirena for 4 1/2 yrs. I have gained 50 lbs! I was a size 12 after having my 2nd daughter and I am now a size 18. I feel aweful! I have never had a problem with wieght, and have decided that it is the Mirena. I also can not stand the feeling of being hot and sweaty all the time frome it! I am going to the Dr. tomorrow for my check up and I am going to ask them to take it out! I have enjoyed not having a dreadful period, but I feel so hot and fat all the time now! I don't even want my husband to see me anymore, much less feel sexy enough to be romantic. I think it's time to just let nature take over. Hopefully I can loose this extra 50lbs that is making me so depressed and the horrible lack of energy. Thank you all for sharing, I am glad that I am not the only one.

So I went to have my Mirena out yesterday. They couldn't find it!! They tried for an hour and a half! It hurt so bad!! I am still sore and cramping! So I have to go back for a procedure Fri. They are going to use a camers to try and find it. If that doesn't work then I will have to have a scan to see where it has gone to and have surgery to remove it. I have talked to some friends and a girl that works with my friend had the same thing happen to her and they found it in her LUNG!!! So I am nervous! I will update you all when we figure out where the little devil has ventured off too. Please pray for me that it isn't serious! Thanks

Hi, my experience has been like many others on here, and I can't wait to have this thing removed. It was put in July 2010 after my 2nd daughter was born. The symptoms didn't start right away, but they have all been adding up. I have horrible headaches almost every day, dizziness, acne, hair falling out. Also mood changes-been so irritable all the time. Can't lose any weight; I had lost weight right after my daughter was born but not since the mirena. I'm going to the Dr tomorrow I want this thing out!! It's affecting my marriage and I am not getting to enjoy my life at all. I'll post later after removal to let everyone know how it goes. Thanks for reading!

Well ladies.....I'm here to say unfortunately I'm one of the sufferers with Mirena, however I'm glad to report that due to this blog & other research I did on the i-net (only 1 week ago) I have had mine out! It got taken out last Saturday, today is Tuesday & I feel almost back to myself which includes that my period has just started & I am actually doing ok PMS-wise.

I had it in for 4 months, 4 months too long for me now that I know what it can cause in your body!!!

My symptoms were major depression which got worse & worse each month, to the point that this past month when I should have had my period but had no bleeding I was considering suicide. I have had weird sleep patterns including way out disturbing dreams, aching knees, aching legs, back soreness which seemed worse on my right hand side, loss of memory - short term memory, to the point that I have thought I was getting Alzheimers at the young age of 36, now I could be but we'll see if it improves now that it's gone!!! I also turned into the she-devil, my poor husband thought I was a dragon & quite frankly has endured (bless him!) as he hasn't even felt it was safe enough to venture a conversation about it because I would have most likely ripped his head off!!! My libido wasn't too bad but of course that's what I thought, I'm betting it's going to rev up now that I'm off it! :) *smile & husband will be smiling too I reckon!*

I was originally put on Mirena for my bad hormone headaches. Ummmm.....hello, can we just say they got massively worse while on it from month 1?!!! I actually ended up with a hormone headache at that time of month (even tho my bleeding had ceased, only a slight bit of spotting) The hormone headache turned into 2-3 day raging migraines, I have NEVER had migraines in my life. I would want to chop my head off they were that bad, major sinus migraines. Nothing would help, not even hard core drugs and/or going to sleep overnight - it was still there upon waking. I was always hungry and I mean ALWAYS. Even when I would tell myself, you just ate, you can't actually be hungry, I could sit & mindlessly eat food and still not be satisfied.

I was afraid to go out of the house, some days I felt I just couldn't function & couldn't get off the couch (all this whilst trying to hold down a full-time job!) I had the worst bloating. I was happy my periods had pretty much gone but with it I felt like I was bloated 24/7 with each month of no bleeding just making my stomach that much more bloated & distended. I had huge boobs, I felt like I was pregnant. I gained about 8kgs (17lbs) in about 6-8 weeks & it just kept going on. I used to sit & wonder what the hell was wrong with me? I just knew I wasn't right within myself & couldn't figure out what it was. At one point I knew I would kill myself & wondered what my poor husband would have to tell my family as to why I'd done it cos even I didn't know why I was feeling so badly that I could consider suicide.

My husband is thrilled that I made the choice to get it out. I am thrilled. My Dr tried to talk me out of it & said she'd give me a "diet" to follow to lose the weight - yeah right! I went away for 3 days went back & had it taken out! Removal was quick & painless - sorry for those ladies going thru ones that are "lost" or stuck :( I imagine I'll have raging periods back at some point but I don't care, I'll deal with those as compared to all that other crap on Mirena.

I know the weight will take a while to come off but I'm just so much happier within myself I know it's going to be ok. Best of luck to you all!

I am 32 years old and have had Mirena for almost 5 yrs. I was so excited at first to not have to deal with birth control pills and to know that my period would go away. But oh, how I regret it all now. I've gained so much weight since then. I have terrible headaches constantly, no sex-drive, and im angry a lot. I feel like im going through menopause or something. But im so happy i found this blog cause i had forgotten all that i had read before i got mirena and now realize that this thing is the cause of all my problems!!! i have an appt in a mth and if all goes well this thing will be out of me!!!!! thank you for everyones post. its really helped me out!!!

Yes! I am not crazy! How we all be wrong? There is no way that all of us could have the same symptoms and attribute it to the same thing and be wrong! I am so mad because I specifically asked my doctor 2-almost 3 years ago when he was telling me about the "WONDERFUL Mirena" "Is acne or weight gain a side affect"... "No." He says, "In all the years I have been insuring them I haven't had any complaints" well, B.S.! My husband is getting a Vasectomy and this thing is out! I am just so very sad I have let it ruin my skin, my body and my health!!! Something needs to happen to stop the use of the horrible thing!

I knw I'm so late but u just wanted to knw how your surgery went. I go to have surgery on weds. My Dr. Can see it on the ultrasound but not when I goes to take it out. I'm so nervous, I'm hurting worse than before.

YESSSS!!!!!! I'm not crazy!!!! I've had the Mirena on a little over 4 years, 4 months after the birth of my son. When I had my first son, I decided to lose the extra weight that I still carried which was about 20 lbs. With 1 hr and 30 minutes at the gym, 5 days a week and a health clean diet, I lost 17 lbs. in 7 weeks. I was proud of myself. I have always been active and knew that the weight would come off. I knew that the second time around it wasn't going to be an issue at all. Totally not the case. I started the gym, healthy eating with no results even after 3 or 4 months. Slowly started losing 1 pound here and 3 pound there. In 3 years I lost 20 lbs. I went to my doctor and told her I don't know what Im doing wrong. I was getting depressed even before that doctor visit. I got some medicince but it still didn't change my mood swing and depression. In the past year I gained 10 lbs because I became an emotional eater. Stop exercising and all. Started working out 3 months ago and guess what, no weight loss. I did manage to lose a couple of inches but no weight loss. I am also doing P90X and taking Shakeology, and guess what little change. So I figured I have only one thing in my body that isn't suppose to be in there. AND Taaaaddddddddaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! I arrived at this blog. Scheduling and appointment to get it removed tomorrow. Wish me Luck!!!!!! I want to be healthy again!!!!

Thank you so much for this site. I have had Mirena in for 2 years and have been struggling with weight gain, acne, mood swings, decreased sex drive and horrible swollen irritated breasts. I was starting to feel crazy, but now I have an appointment to go to the doctor and hopefully have it removed. My strings went up inside last year so I'm not sure if it will happen right away, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel just knowing these awful symptoms may go away soon.

I had so much nasty side effects with Mirena : gained 50 pounds in less than one year, fatigue, acne, bloating, bad mood... and many other things. First, my lifestyle was the SAME, and then, i started eating really healthy and exercising but nothing changed. So i'm having it out on april 3rd. Can't wait to see what's gonna happen. I created a blog in which i'll be giving all the details about the removal and many updates and what will happen after. If you want to read about my experience it's here : http://naturalternatives.blogspot.ca/My blog will also be about natural health in general, so i invite anyone who's interested to follow me and learn with me!

I am getting this crap removed in 2 weeks. At the same time i am very angry at the f... OB because when i asked her which one is better: Mirena or Copper IUD. She answered I recommend to buy Mirena. I am 100 % sure she is getting the monetary reward for recommending this shit. Dear ladies , PLEASE, be advised that is Mirena is a TOTAL CRAP. Save your money and your health.

I am so grateful that I found this website and had the opportunity to read about everyone else's experiences with Mirena. I had my mirena in for almost 20 months and struggled with horrible depression, anxiety, mood swings, acne and even suicidal thoughts. My sex drive was awful and my marriage was suffering. After a year of trying many different antidepressants and even a stay in the hospital, it dawned on my that maybe the hormones from my iud was affecting me. That was when I started researching and found this site. Two weeks ago I had the mirena removed (totally painless, by the way) and I am overjoyed to say that my life has turned around! I was cautiously optomistic about what life would be like and I could not believe that within days I was feeling so much better. I actually WANTED to be around my two small children and I actually WANTED to have sex with my sweet husband. I feel awful that its taken me this long to figure out what was going on and I feel like I've lost a huge chunk of my life due to the deep depression caused by mirena. I don't even want to think about how much money I spent in the last year and a half on doctors, therapists, prescriptions...not to mention what I've put my family through. It is not fair and I hope that the FDA figures this out soon because I know that this really could have killed me. Anyway, the reason I wanted to post is to say that having it removed was the best decision I could have made and the results were SO immediate! thank you all so much for sharing your stories.

Just came across this blog and wanted to present a flip side for the readers. This is not the experience that every woman, or even the majority of women have with Mirena.

Everybody is different and while some women do have some absolutely horrible experiences with Mirena and bad side effects, many are VERY happy with the device and it is very effective. You have to consider the possibility that many women who go on Mirena switch from a hormonal birth control pill. They are often used to control PMS symptoms, acne, and make periods lighter and nicer. If you go from that much hormone to the almost miniscule amount that Mirena releases a day (20 micrograms, that's 20/1000th's of a gram, just a tenth of the protesterone only mini-pill that is taken daily), then of course you're going to experience PMS symptoms again and more bleeding.

If you have issues with a birth control, that always deserves attention with a doctor. But don't let some bad experiences that you read online deter you from trying Mirena if it sounds like something that will fit your lifestyle and needs and your doctor agrees.

Myself and many other women (google IUD Divas) have the device and have had minimal side effects. It has not been a negative at all in our lives, but rather a positive, allowing us to have worry free sex, and lightening up our periods, if not causing them to disappear all together.

I just found your blog throu circle of moms. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. My fiancee just left me and is now my ex, and he said it was cuz of my emotional outburts, my attitude, and the lack of sex he was getting from me. I really was wondering what kind of person can do that to someone they love and i was starting to question me. Other than the weight gain (ive always had a problem with gaining) everything else is me. I hate feeling like i am going crazy and i hate being told i am crazy. Im waiting on my health card as i just moved to a new province but the MOMENT i get it, this synthetic crap is coming out. I sure do wish my doc told me ALL of the possible neg symptoms instead of the sugar coated version. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for posting this and THANK YOU to everyone who has posted along the way to help confirm im not needing to admit myself to the looney bin.

I had surgery on Monday to remove mine. It was an easy surgery. They easily removed it - thank goodness! I've been bleeding (like a super heavy period) which they told me was normal and they said no heavy lifting bc it could increase bleeding. Worst part was my doc said no pelvic activity for 4 weeks!

Mirena has been devastating to my family. My wife has had low back, panic attacks, paranoia, and has run her family so far into the ground to the point of causing divorce. Mirena is a real family killer. Simply terrible.

I had my IUD put in August 2010. My main reason was I didn't want to have any periods...and as a second back-up birth control. (Hubby got "fixed..and we already have 4 kids!).

I feel like I have been on an emotional roller coaster ever since. I'm grouchy, irritable, upset, sad, frustrated, lack of sex drive.

The only plus - haven't had a period for over a year...BUT just recently started spotting again. Not sure what that's all about.

Occasionally, I do get major cramping in my lower abdominal area. And, I have gained about 10 pounds that I just can't get rid of. Diet and exercise patterns are the same as before. I've always had a flat stomach, and seem to be more bloated than usual. In fact, my ankles are still bloated (youngest is 3.5 years old now), and I wonder if this is due to the IUD. I've googled alot, and have read many similiar posts.

I'm going to get mine out, as soon as I find a doctor. Just moved to a pretty small town, so need to find someone who even knows what an IUD is!! LOL!

I definately am of the opinion that the IUD doesn't agree with everyone. Myself included.

Hi. Ladies, well i had my mirena iud removed 2 days ago after having it in for 3 1/2 yrs, i had gained 15lbs & couldnt loose it! It was all on my belly & hips it eas horrible. Always feeling bloated & spotting. Well now hsppy to say i feel so much better, my belly has gone down & dnt feel bloated, also happy to say ive lost 2 pnds in 2 days! I feel happier. I still feel little cramps but midol has helped. No bleeding yet so just waiting to get my period again. This was the best decision ive made! :)

I felt exactly the same way!!! Like I wasn't even me just some crazier fatter bitchier version of me that had to be forced to enjoy life! I hope you're feeling better got mine removed this past thursday dealing with moderate bleeding but shed 6 lbs already!

My experience with Mirena has been a disaster. I am 43 years old and got the Mirena 3 years ago after my second child. My husband would not agree to a V and birth control pills did not seem like a good fit. Immediatly after having the Mirena I started to gain weight, have swollen painful breasts, become dizzy and nauseous frequently. Idid not relate any of the symptoms to the Mirena. I saw my doctor and even went a breast specialist 3 times about my ever increasing breasts that are painful. They told me it happens with age. I had diagnostic mammograms every 6 month to ensure there was no bad lumps. The doctors just said it is breast tissue that is swelling and we see this as people get closer to menopause! I was 40! Now 43 and having been told this over and over I just thought wow I am getting old. I am gaining weight even though I am eating less and working out 4-5 days per week just like I always did in my 30's. I started to feel slightly depressed about these sympytoms and changes to my body that I was just not comfortable with. I have been trying to lose weight and instead have gained 8-10lbs in the past couple of years. Thinking back the only thing that saved me from gaining weight the first year on Mirena was that I got pneumonia and lost weight during that two week period of illness. I am dizzy. My memory is starting to go. I recently started taking ginkgo Bilbao in hopes to retain my memory. I am active everyday all day and still can not lose weight on 1200-1400 calories a day. I am hoping getting this stupid thing taken out tomorrow will resolve these symptoms. How can I possibly be going down hill this fast? I am 43! I should be able to maintain my memory,my weight and my breast size. Also, the new bloated stomach look I have been sporting for the first time in my life could be an awful side effect of Mirena too. I thought it was because all of the sudden my body was starting to bloat from simply eating food...like a big salad. The only way I could get the bloat to go away was to eat tiny meals. And even then it would come back after a few days. My mom just told me last week she thought I was looking much better since I gained some weight! Brutal!

I am delighted to read all of your stories which I completely relate to. Perhaps, I do not have to be depressed by the aging process after all. I don't mind a few wrinkles but gaining weight and giant breasts can take a hike! I want to be me. The me I always was before Mirena. Hopefully removal is the answer. I have hope.

I hope getting Mirena removed eliminates my symptoms. I check in after a few weeks to let you know.

Thank you so much for this blog! And, thank you to all of you ladies who have shared your experiences here as well. I had the Mirena inserted in may of 2010. I had spotting and thick, foul smelling discharge for several months and that finally went away. I still have spotting at the usually time of my period but I just thought that was normal. I am getting married in a few months and my fiancée and I want to have children so I decided to get the mirena removed. I have had all of these symotoms of bloating, weight gain and depressed mood but never thought it had anything to do with the iud. I have also been diagnosed with narcolepsy so I thought that my fatigue and weight gain were associated with that. I love to work out and have been working out 5 or 6 times a week for several years. However, in the last 18 months or so, I have gained almost 20 pounds! I mean I run 10 mile races, do boot camp workouts, cycle, yoga, Nia - the works! I eat moderately healthy and have even done juice detox regimens a few times over the course of having the iud placed. I will have the iud removed in two weeks. I am a bit concerned about the removal process and future futility since the iud has flipped and the strings cannot be seen or felt from the outside. An ultrasound a year or so ago confirmed that it is still there. I would love to hear from other women who have had a flipped iud removed. What has been your experience? Was surgery required to remove it? I am especially concerned because I don't have insurance. I will have to pay out of pocket for this.

I have had the Mirena for 8 months. Over the last couple of months, I've noticed some weird stuff going on: my pelvis feels full, leg pain, back pain, nipple pain, fatigue, teenage acne & greasy face (I'm 45!), fatigue, malaise, depression, cramping, vaginal & cervical discomfort, etc etc etc. The acne was the last straw for me so I decided to have the IUD removed. I went last week and guess what! They couldn't find the strings! This freaked me out bad! I'd already been cramping for a couple of days and my Dr wouldn't see me for a week so I headed to the ER. An ultrasound revealed that the IUD is still in my uterus (thank you Lord!) where it belongs but it has migrated up, so that's why the strings disappeared. The ultrasound also revealed "multiple" ovarian cysts, the largest being 3.2 cm... another side affect of the Mirena. I am scheduled to go back to my Dr in 2 days to have the pos removed and I can't wait. It hurt so bad going in. I hope and pray it doesn't hurt coming out but at this point I JUST WANT IT GONE! After it is successfully removed, I'll be making calls to Bayer & CVS to report adverse events. These damn drug companies don't give a rats a@@ about the affects on us. The almighty $$ is king to them. I plan to give my Dr an earful, too, so maybe he can warn the next woman. I will tell anyone who will listen, DON'T GET THE MIRENA!

I had the mirena for 5 yrs gained a ton of weight had a new one put in 2 yrs ago and still more weight gain!After talking to a friend who has high BP was was told by her doc the mirena has awful side effects I had a lighbulb moment! It explains my horrible mood swings especially PMS,hair loss,weight gain huge sore boobies,heart palpatations no sex drive and food cravings...I started reading all these blogs and freaked! I had it removed 3weeks ago down 5lbs doing nothing I feel sooo deflated!! I hope this helps on ur mirena decision!!

I had mirena for three weeks, and in that time was in excruciating pain. I had it out finally in hospital where they told me it wasn't placed correctly. Afterwards I have had the worst period and pain of my life and I have endometriosis so that's saying something. Part of the mirena string came out in the shower three days after I'd had it removed!! I've been bedridden on panadeine forte for five days now, unable to look after my one yr old daughter and rushing to the toilet vomiting etc. I wish I'd never had the stupid thing put in. It was nothing but trouble, and now it feels like I have a cyst or something on my ovary.

I had my IUD for nearly three years, and while the first 18 months I had no side effects at all, by the 2 year mark I was having mood swings, pain on my left side near my ovaries, horrible back pain, bloating, and NO sex drive whatsoever. I had thought about removing my IUD before, but I have struggled so much finding a birth control that I felt okay on, so I wait - until I read your blog. Two days later I made an appointment to get my IUD removed. My OB/BYN was not trained to remove it, so I had a nurse do it. The whole time she tried to tell me that my IUD was not causing my symptoms. She said I should wait to have it removed and instead have an ultrasound for my left ovary pain. I refused the ultrasound and demanded that the IUD be removed. She finally removed it. Two days later, the pain on my left side, my back pain and the bloating disappeared. Over the next month my mood swings went away, I felt happier and not as easily irritated by little things. My sex drive has returned, though this honestly took the longest to return to normal at almost 2 months, but I have always struggled with this diminishing on birth control of any type. I plan to stay off birth control for another month at least because I honestly haven’t felt this good in ten years.

Thank you so much for posting about your experience on an IUD. I honestly felt as though I was the only one experiencing these kind of issues, and it was SO reassuring to know I wasn’t losing my mind about how my IUD was making me feel. I hope things are going well with you now two years later.

I am experiencing so many of the same exact symptoms listed on here. It will be 2 years in December that I've had the mirena. I had the mirena inserted at my 6 week check up after having my son. I didn't notice too many side effects during the first year (possibly because I was nursing) but once I stopped nursing my period returned, very irregular at first and then continuing on every month, but instead of a 28 day cycle it seems like every 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. I'm also experiencing hair loss, acne on my face and back, bloating, sore breasts, cramping, decreased sex drive and changes in my moods. In january I started working out every day and eating very healthy, I was able to lose about 30 pounds and was starting to feel good. I stopped working out about 4 months ago and have gained back about 7 pounds, but my moods have been so up and down and my cravings almost uncontrollable. Sometimes I almost feel pregnant again. I know there are thousands of women who find success with their IUD, but after doing a lot of research and reading blogs like this, I've decided to have my mirena removed. I have to listen to my instincts and they are telling me that my body isn't responding well to this. My hormones are just all over the place it seems like. Hopefully things go back to normal soon. Good luck to everyone else. It's a relief to know I'm not the only one going through this stuff.

My Mirena has been out 5 weeks. I could tell a difference the next day! With the iud, I was constantly "aware" of my uterus, if that makes any sense. All the other weird symptoms are gone, too. I've sworn off all synthetic hormone birth control. What a difference it has made. I'm letting my body do what it was designed to do.

I don't know if anybody still reads this but I just removed my Mirena myself a week ago and already feel A MILLION times better!(Yes I removed it myself, I am a nurse and have seen them removed enough times to know how to do it)It was really simple all you have to do is grab the strings and lightly pull until it comes out. It comes out easier than a tampon(unless it is embedded). So all you ladied that are waiting for an appt. to get it out or saying your doc. won't take it out you can probably do it yourself. I am SO happy to have that damn thing gone from my body I had mood swings, random spotting, headaches, bad dreams, weight fluctuations (I would gain 10 lbs in one night despite working out and eating right) heart palpitations, hair loss,joint pain,anxiety, depression the list goes on and on. Since removing it I am no longer taking Zoloft and already have lost 5 lbs. Just wanted to let you ladied know there is an end in sight!

I am so thankful for seeing this blog as well as others, that made me take out the Mirena in time. Only had it in for less than a week, but could feel the abdominal pressure, cramping, taste the hormone/ medicine in my mouth, bloatedness, and wasn't losing weight as I had been after the baby.

I have been on Mirena for 9 months now, and have gained 60 pounds. Some of that weight was due to my pregnancy but MOST was after I had my baby. I was continuing to gain even through excersize and it wasn't until I joined PRISM weight loss that I started to lose. I am now down 20 pounds but I still wonder what caused the weight in the beginning. I still have my mirena in but wasn't planning on taking it out until my husband and I are ready to have another baby. Now im tempted. I've definetly had a lot of those symptoms! Depression, mood swings, weight gain, loss of sex drive, and fatigue. I had just attributed all those symptoms to lack of sleep and getting older. Do you think it could be because of the mirena?

I've been on Mirena for a little over a year and I've gained so much weight about 30 pounds,chest pain/palpitations,memory loss, mood swings, migraines for days, leg aches, right arm aches, right hand numb and tingling and burning sensation in it losing a lot of hair, and the list goes on. And I for one know that its the IUD because I experienced before when I had the IUD 4 years ago, and I didn't start to have the symptoms until about 2 years after the I got it so I didn't believe that it was from the IUD I got all sort of test ran to see what it could be and nothing showed up so my mother asked me about the bc I was using and I found other people with similar problems. After removal of it I was pregnant the next moth and after the delivery of my daughter my Dr said I should just try it again what are the odds of that happening again, well they must be pretty high because its happening and I just can't get this thing out of me fast enough. I really would not reccomend this to anyone not even my worst enemy if I had one. I just feel terrible. FYI my sister had to have hers surgically removed a month ago. Doesn't make me feel better about the situation.

My Mirena June, 2011 I went in for my first form of birth control. I was scared because my soon to be family in law kept pushing me to get something. I was a virgin at the time didn't know anything about sex or birth control so I just listened and agreed with everything my doctor told me. Well before getting Mirena I was a happy silly girl. I loved talking to my friends, going out, dressing up and excited to be following my dreams. I knew where I was going in life and that just made me so confidant and happy. I honestly enjoy and loved my life. It was perfect. I was going to get married, get my contractors license, work full time in a setting I absolutely enjoyed and in a new state. I'm only 20 years old at this time and life has just begun. Now, three weeks before getting Mirena, I remember being a bit nervous because I never had a "vagina doctor", the words I used at that time. But I was ready because I didn't want to worry about my horrible painful river like periods or having children. Well the day came, and pop. It was in there alright. Pain and pain. Took 10 Advils that day. It hurt and I laid In bed all day so I wouldn't feel it. Five days later I went back because I was so itchy down there. It was so freakin weird. So I got some cream that honestly never made the itch go away. I went back again later and lied that all is good in the neighbor. Well before going back to lie, my soon to be hubby was in a terrible accident. He was ran over my a semi. I was already feeling down but our wedding was two weeks away maybe that's why I'm feeling weird and now with my injured hubby. I was shaken up badly. But I fought back the tears and my pain because my hubby didn't shed one tear. And he still wanted the wedding to go as planned even if he's in a wheelchair. Well I sucked it up and may sure I made everything okay for my soon to be hubby. I came last during this time. But I was feeling weird and all I wanted to do was lay in bed instead of preparing for my wedding. Well the not so great day came. I had been grumpy all day and I felt like crap. I'm glad I had a fantastic hair dresser and makeup artist because they made me look amazing when in fact I look ugly with all my pimples and hair falling out. Now it's time to put my dress on. I've always been a 0 or a 00. Shit. It doesn't want to zip up. I about had it. Finally we got that dress zipped up but my boobs were nearly falling out and I could believe it. I use to be a 32 C. I didn't look like that size in my dress. Well wedding was errr..... Don't even get me started on my horrible mood. Damn I am what they call some chicks... A flat out mean bitch! I'm never happy and always depressed. I hate it. I have no connection with friends anymore. I rarely talk to my parents. I quit my job. I quit school for my license. My marriage is only working out because my hubby pushes hard for it to work. Worst part is that I really thought of killing myself. A few days ago my regular doctor suggested to take up on her offer to be on antidepressant meds. I said no but now that I have read this I'm actually relieved. Thank you so much!

soooooo glad I found this post, I cant even begin to tell you how most of these stories are exactly how I have felt for the pas7 yes 7 years!! it was so bad the initial insertion of mirena that i have been terrified to get it out for fear of a repeat of the first time. now I want to go to a clinic right now and start the healing process. I haven't had a decent sex life in as long as i can remember.I to have weight that is unexplainable and persistent. Mood swings, general discontent and depression. Not a period in almost a decade (switched from depo to mirena silly girl i am) Wish I could tell the 24 year old me what a terrible Idea this will be for your mental and physical health. and the 18 year old me that birth control is not for everyone. good luck everyone I understand your frustrations, your fears and your long endured pain and frustration.

So, what forms on birth control have you ladies chosen after having the Mirena removed? I have had mine for 5 years now and am SO over it! I have gained a TON of weight..and any Dr. I ask says it's NOT bc of the IUD, but I have such a hard time believing that! So, I am really wanting mine out, but unsure where to go with birth control from there. Thanks ladies!

I had my Mirena put in in April 2011, 6 weeks after having my 2nd child. I don't plan on having any more children so I figured it was the best form of birth control. The doctor even told me the hormone was "localized" and would not spread throughout my body. Was she ever wrong.

I had plenty of side effects. The strong, foul odor. The "Mirena rage"... always feeling like I was about to snap. Loss of libido. Feeling like I'm unable to focus. The weight gain has been the worst though, and that's what inspired my decision to get it removed on March 26, 2013... after almost 2 years. I was tired of people asking me if I was pregnant.

Immediately after getting it removed, some of the side effects went away. The odor was the first thing to go. My libido came back. I was maybe even hypersexual during the adjustment period. My thinking is also more clear. However, the weight gain is something I can't shake.

The entire time I had the Mirena I was working out at the gym. I do a 5k, 3 or 4 times a week, with an incline of 2.5. Lots of sweating. I also do ab toning on the machines. And despite all that exercise, I did not lose a single pound. The only time I did lose some weight with Mirena was in December of 2012 when I contracted the flu and couldn't eat for a week. I got to 149 lbs (still overweight for me), but I'm convinced that it was just water loss from being dehydrated because I didn't appear to lose any fat.

I continued my exercise regimen after getting Mirena removed, and 2 months later... still not a single ounce of weight loss. I still have the "Mirena belly" as I've heard it called.

I'm convinced that it's altered my endocrine system, even after removal. I hate going to the gym now. It's depressing because I see people working out and getting results. But I'm working as hard as them, perhaps harder, and getting nowhere at all. I'm even convinced that Mirena hormones prevent muscle toning in some way, only allowing fat buildup.

I've considered quitting the gym because seeing my lack of results after all this hard work is so depressing that I feel suicidal at times.

My husband isn't supportive of me at all. When I confided my problems in him, I got "Why don't you just give up and be fat", "Why don't you start running 25 miles a day" and "Why don't you stop eating altogether".

I really don't know what to do. I have a doctor's appointment in 2 weeks and maybe he can do some bloodwork and figure out what's wrong with me. I've started praying before my workouts too, for some results. If anything will work, that will.

Well, I'm back. It's now been 3 months since my Mirena removal. A lot has happened.

Unfortunately, I still haven't lost a single pound. I've increased my workout to 4 miles a day, 4 times a week, rather than 3 miles a day. I figured my body was so accustomed to 3 mile runs it wasn't affecting anything. It's funny, I imagine a 4-mile run would be good for someone who's already in nice shape, just trying to lose those last few pounds. Not someone like me who's overweight and struggling to lose a single pound.

I also ran 5k road races for the first time this month. I finished in 32 minutes. Not great, but considering all the extra weight I'm carrying it's a pretty good finish.

I had a doctor's visit at the beginning of the month. I brought up my concerns about the Mirena.. how even over 2 months post removal I'm still unable to lose weight.

He told me it's because the synthetic hormone in Mirena builds up in adipose tissue... not the bloodstream... so it takes 90 days to leave our system. I have 2 years worth of Mirena stored in my adipose tissue, so I have to wait (weight) for it to leave my body.

I've read some ignorant comments from people like "Mirena doesn't have any calories, it can't make you gain weight". Well, actually it can, as it prevents your body from metabolizing normally.

I had a few depressing moments this month. One was when I attempted to put on a size large polo shirt that always fit me... and now I can't even fit my arm into the sleeve. Another time was when I weighed myself and realized I was still gaining. As I was digesting this, my 5-year-old came upstairs and I snapped at him. I felt so terrible. I decided I wasn't going to weight myself again until the end of this month. The scale is so depressing.

The weight gain is having a negative effect on my marriage. My husband really isn't physically attracted to me lately, being this heavy. It's understandable because I look nothing like the woman he married. Not to mention the "elephant" (ha ha) in the room that neither of us talks about... the possibility that Mirena permanantly screwed up my system and I'll never lose weight again. Ugh..It's laughable that women get the Mirena to have that freedom from having to use other birth control. Well listen here, no one's going to want to have sex with you anyway when you're big and fat. Plus we lose our libido with Mirena. It's so pointless. Never ever, get Mirena.

The only difference I've seen this month is my muscles in thighs and butt seem like they're beginning to tone. I don't know if I'm imagining this... like water in a desert... as I've been working out for over 2 years with no results at all. Plus I have no one to be the judge of that. ;)

I wanted to add that with Obama's new healthcare reform I had my mirena removed for free!!! And my depo shot was also free cuz I was covered. I have kaiser, I'm in Hawaii. I wanted to let you guys know because that was a big concern for me because I have a very small budget. It took me a while of researching to figure this out hope it helps and encourages you to get the removal if your having doubts!

Thanks to everyone for posting their Mirena stories. I also thought I was crazy or lazy or both! I have gained 10 lbs. since I had the Mirena put in almost 1 year ago and have not been able to lose it. I have never been overweight in my life. I also have that weird "mirena belly", huge sore breasts, acne and bacne, hair loss, and fatigue. After reading all your stories, I know I am not alone. I am having this removed tomorrow and learning how to do old fashioned charting where you count days and take your temperature to see when you are ovulating. Good luck to all of you!

I just had my 3rd Mirena IUD inserted in March. (10 consecutive years). After reading this blog, I can clearly see where my mood swings, memory loss and excessive weight gain have come from. I am about 45 lbs heavier than I was 10 years ago and no matter how much I work out or watch what I eat, the weight doesn't come off. Most recently I've gained 11 pounds since this last one was inserted in March. Memory loss, OMG!!! short and long term seem shot and I'm only 35. We have two beautiful children and I think it's time to make a more permanent decision about birth control and get this thing out. Thank you everyone for sharing you story and encouraging others!

I am so pleased to find out further other Mirena Users have had extreme side affects. I had my MC removed 2 days ago, after 3 years, and now looking out for the signs of recovery.

As I mentioned my story started 3 years ago, the first I noticed about 12 months into the insertion where I had very bad skin rashed on my wrist area and back. At first I did think 'oh is this something I've eaten? Stress?', but my life was very happy. I then noticed I started to get a very itchy head and would flush, especially in my face. The skin issue was still continuing, I visited the Doctor, who as so many other woman have stated, it was allergic reaction etc, which I kept saying 'NOTHING has changed in my diet, environment etc'. Again, as other users, the Doctor didn't possible think it could be the Mirena.So through the last 3 years I've endured extremely bad skin, itchy, hair loss, anxiety, headaches. Until I finally, had it removed at the sexual health clinic 2 days ago. I really hope my body will come back to me, I've just started to bleed which I presume is normal after removal? My skin is still itchy, but has only been 48 hours since removal. On a closing note, it has been a great relieve to read other women's similar stories to the insertion of Mirena, and globally how the Doctor's convince you that you have some other ailment, when we know our bodies and believe it is the Mirena. I would strongly advice any woman to use an alternative contraceptive, just incase you are the % who has the side affects that turn out negative.Would love to hear from ladies who have had it removed and the recovery, if they got their skin or other ailments back to normal?All the best, C from the UK

I am updating to let everyone know I just got mine out a couple weeks ago, my acne has cleared up, which I hadn't even thought was an effect of the mirena, and I am down 7 pounds while still eating pizza and brownies. I am going back on my old diet now that I am confident that it will really work. I have NO bloating, I got so used to it I didn't even realize how often I felt it until I realized a few days ago that I DON'T feel bloated anymore. It's great! I'm literally doing nothing to have lost any weight, actually I expected to gain weight since it's been a hectic month and I haven't been eating well at all. I haven't eaten a piece of fruit all week and still lost 4 pounds. I got my period kind of yesterday and I expect to lose a good amount more after it's over as I always gained weight on my cycle even before starting bc and would lose it again a few days after it ended. I'm thrilled to have lost anything. This is the first time I have seen a second week in a row of weight loss in years without eating less than 1000 calories. I will post again in a couple of months with another update :) good luck ladies. Even if this isn't the answer to your issues, it's definitely worth the try!

This site has a lot of people since they have been off the mirena as well, and most of the women at least, seem to have had a full reversal of issues. I hope that it has worked out that way for you and that you are feeling better since it's removal

Helpful Links

Why I'm Here

Just from doing a little research on the internet, I have found that there are an overwhelming amount of negative experiences from women who currently have the Mirena IUD. What I didn't find was much information on what happened to these women after they got their Mirena IUDs removed. If you are like me, once you confirm that the Mirena is the reason for your symptoms, you want to know that your body/life will return to normal if you get the IUD removed. After my own very negative experience, I have decided to create this blog to track what happens to me AFTER taking the Mirena out. I think the real test will be if the symptoms that have plagued me for a year go away, and I want other women to know that yes, things will be okay after removal.

I am aware that not every woman has a negative experience with the Mirena IUD. These are my personal experiences, and I simply hope that they help anyone else who is having a negative Mirena experience.

Also, any information I post deals with the Mirena IUD. I don't have any information on the Paraguard Copper IUD.